Ecuador Organic Farm & Reforestation

Location

Ecuador: Rural Areas

Program Summary

Ecuador is a pocket-sized slice of beautiful South America. Despite its diminutive size, it is bursting with vibrant culture, mesmerising landscapes, exotic tropical wildlife and pristine habitats. It encompasses the all-consuming emerald Amazon, rich in natural resources and home to a wealth of fascinating creatures. Ecuador has a picture-perfect capital painted in pastel colours, alive with cafés, clubs, bars, churches and museums. Markets where friendly locals sell their wares are surrounded by the hustle and bustle of traditional street life. In contrast, the peaceful and serene Andes provide a home for indigenous mountain communities and enigmatic mountain creatures alike. This captivating country contains a culture that is expressed in an abundance of wholesome and delicious cuisine, diverse musical forms and colourful festivals that will enliven your senses. Whilst it is one of South America's tiniest countries, it has everything you could possibly want, including stretches of white sand ...

Program Summary

Ecuador is a pocket-sized slice of beautiful South America. Despite its diminutive size, it is bursting with vibrant culture, mesmerising landscapes, exotic tropical wildlife and pristine habitats. It encompasses the all-consuming emerald Amazon, rich in natural resources and home to a wealth of fascinating creatures. Ecuador has a picture-perfect capital painted in pastel colours, alive with cafés, clubs, bars, churches and museums. Markets where friendly locals sell their wares are surrounded by the hustle and bustle of traditional street life. In contrast, the peaceful and serene Andes provide a home for indigenous mountain communities and enigmatic mountain creatures alike. This captivating country contains a culture that is expressed in an abundance of wholesome and delicious cuisine, diverse musical forms and colourful festivals that will enliven your senses. Whilst it is one of South America's tiniest countries, it has everything you could possibly want, including stretches of white sand beaches, expansive plains, steamy jungles and spectacular mountains. All this and more is waiting to be discovered on your spectacular Ecuadorian adventure!

WHAT DOES THE PROJECT DO?

Ecuador is a very poor country and fluctuating oil prices, the 1990s Asia crisis, and the effects of the El Niño climate phenomena, which cause considerable damage to the infrastructure and harvests have led to a decline in living standards for much of the population. In 1999, according to the World Bank, 69% of the population live below the poverty line, of these 34% in absolute poverty.

The Frontier-Ecuador Ecuador Project aims to build skills in poor rural and urban communities throughout the country, giving them better chances to succeed in the future. It also aims to foster environmental regeneration by improving facilities for ecotourism.

WHAT WILL I BE DOING?

You will work and learn on an organic farm and reforestation project in the northern Andes. The cultivation of thousands of native trees provides the means for the communities to undertake essential reforestation activities, as well as develop sustainable agriculture projects as alternatives to environmentally destructive agriculture and industrial practices. Reforestation projects assist in the control of erosion, improving water supply and soil quality, and bring important biodiversity back to the region. The reforested areas have the capacity to neutralise or absorb atmospheric carbon dioxide, one of the greenhouse gases contributing to global warming and climate change. This project also operates as an organic farm, cultivating fruit and vegetable and livestock, and testing out and employing methods of sustainable agriculture.

Volunteers are essential to the success of this project. Volunteers assist by working in the organic fruit and vegetable gardens, taking care and managing animals and working in the tree nursery and with the reforestation projects. Whilst undertaking this work, volunteers learn about organic agriculture, agro-forestry, animal management (cows, pigs, llamas, guinea pigs etc.) and the conservation of native forests.

Program Highlights

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

Discover a pocket-sized slice of beautiful South America
Work on an organic farm in the stunning northern Andes
Immerse yourself in a new & exciting culture